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Bike Station FAQ's
What Bike Station Aptos wants you to know
When you step into our store to look at bikes for the first time you have
probably been lucky enough to receive some pointers and bits of advice
from cycling friends who want to make sure that you get a great deal and
benefit from their experience. We understand a new bike purchase is as
exciting as it is intimidating and we think it is great that you have started
your education process based on your fitness, goals, budget and the like.
Let’s discuss some of the common pieces of “advice”, disperse some
cycling myths and have some fun along the way!
"Don't buy a bike that you will outgrow in a year's time"
At Bike Station Aptos we wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. A
person considering their first bike in some time is very likely to experience
some sticker shock. It's very common for someone to expect to be able to
get a pretty good road bike for as little as $600. We know that there are
some road bikes out there retailing at this price point, but our general
advice on this is, "Run Away, as fast as you can!" If you feel that you enjoy
your potential riding partners company, you enjoy the outdoors, and you
will ride your bicycle more than once a year a low-end bicycle will let you
down quickly. The components on a bike in the 500-700 dollar price range
will not work well for very long. They will frustrate you (and us) with poor
performance and leaving you looking to upgrade and thus “double
spending”.
If you plan to ride 15 miles 2-3 times a week you will not be satisfied with
buying a low-end bike.
Think about this-if you are running 10 miles a week and attending spin
classes you have already outgrown a 500-700 dollar bike.
Would you wear $500 shoes with a suit from wal-mart or drink a $30 bottle
of wine with food from taco bell?
At Bike Station Aptos we do the research for you and shop our
manufacturers to bring you the best value for the dollar. We have a range
of beautiful bicycles in starting at $799 in a variety of frame materials for
you to try.
"Someone said steel is heavy”
At Bike Station Aptos we sell bikes made of all types of materials-but here
are the basics in a very small nutshell.
Steel: it is what bikes have been made of the longest. A steel frame
provides a great ride that is lively and comfortable-especially on Santa Cruz
County roads. Steel frames are also available at a great price because
steel is easy to work with. No it may not be the lightest bike on the block-but
it will be comfortable and it will not break! A quality steel bicycle will weigh
between 17-22 lbs. The other plus to steel is that the frame is easily
repaired. It will last your lifetime! Expect to pay $900 and upwards for a
quality steel bicycle.
Aluminum: it has become the frame material for low-end bikes. We like to
illustrate that there are two types of aluminum bike frames the first being
the frame that you see on low-end bikes, which will actually be heavier than
a comparable steel bike! Then one can move into more technologically
advanced aluminum frames which are quite light. Aluminum provides a very
rigid ride-which is great because the frame is stiff and efficient. Aluminum
bikes are often the choice of professional racers due to the low weight and
stiffness of the material. Aluminum frames cannot be repaired. Expect to
pay $1200 and upwards for a quality aluminum bicycle.
Carbon Fiber: As the name will indicate carbon fiber starts as thread that
then gets woven into fabric, which is then impregnated with, laminates and
baked to harden. It is a very light material that can dampen road feel.
Carbon Fiber has gained in popularity as a frame material and it is the
current rage. Carbon fiber also produces many different ride qualities
depending on how the fibers are woven and what the weave is mixed with.
But generally with carbon fiber you get what you pay for. Good quality
carbon fiber bicycles are expensive and delicate and deserver to be
handled as a fine instrument. Expect to pay $2500 and upwards for a
quality carbon fiber bicycle.
Titanium: Perhaps the perfect frame material, especially for larger riders.
It is rust and corrosion resistant. As strong as steel but much lighter and
very resilient and provides great comfort on the road. Titanium remains
quite expensive due to the difficulties in working with the material but it is
worth every penny of it. Expect to pay $2000 and upwards for the frameset
only.
"Someone said I should buy a bike with at least 105 components"
The comment above may be the number one thing we hear from the first
time buyer. As a matter of fact, the term 105 Bike has almost become
synonymous for an entry level or midlevel bike. Many first time buyers can't
tell you the name of the bike model or the frame material; all they know is
"that it has 105 on it."
105 is the name for Shimano's workhorse component group. Like
Campagnolo's Veloce group, it is reasonably light, durable and accurate. In
other words, 105 is a great value for the masses. The problem with
choosing your bike based solely on the parts is that your frame and wheels
could be substandard. A complete bike consists of a frame set, drive train,
brakes, wheels and finishing kit (stem, handlebar, seat post, and a
saddle). The rub is that marketing departments know you are looking for a
"105 bike", so they will put a 105-rear derailleur on a $700 bike and then
finish everything else off with cheap end and generic parts leaving you with
a nice derailleur that works well when nothing else does. Needless to say,
we don't stock these bikes.
"Someone said it doesn't matter what bike I get as long as it fits me
right"
Of course, we always feel that the bike matters, but we absolutely will not
sell it to you if it does not fit. We take great pride in our abilities to insure
that our customers are absolutely as comfortable on their new bike as
possible. We use the “Fit Kit” and our state of the art size cycle to measure
you and determine the most appropriate frame size and geometry based on
your specific measurements, flexibility, and health. We factor in the age,
fitness level and your goals to determine the most appropriate bike for you.
Our philosophy is not to push you toward a bike on our floor because it is
"close" to your size. We have enough comparable styles and sizes on the
floor for you to test ride and compare, then if we do not have the proper
size in the model you like we order it.
We have years of practical experience in refining a person's position on the
bike. We will adjust your new bike to you at the time of your purchase, as
well as refine your fit after you have been riding for several months and
possibly developed a greater range of flexibility. We always have time to
put your bike up on the trainer and make sure that you continue to be in
the right place.
"Someone said you guys are the best and I shouldn't shop
anywhere else"
We wanted to close with this to get your attention and say that we are
committed to helping you, the buyer get the best bike available to you. We
take the time to share our passion for the sport, find the best match for
each customer, and provide a superior level of service. Please don't buy a
bike without looking at what we offer. You are developing not only a
relationship with your bike but with the people from whom you chose to buy
your bike.
This is a lot of information the first time buyer. At Bike Station Aptos, we
enjoy helping you sort out the differences and encourage you to ask lots of
questions. When you know what you are looking at you can know what you
are looking for and appreciate the differences!
When you step into our store to look at bikes for the first time you have
probably been lucky enough to receive some pointers and bits of advice
from cycling friends who want to make sure that you get a great deal and
benefit from their experience. We understand a new bike purchase is as
exciting as it is intimidating and we think it is great that you have started
your education process based on your fitness, goals, budget and the like.
Let’s discuss some of the common pieces of “advice”, disperse some
cycling myths and have some fun along the way!
"Don't buy a bike that you will outgrow in a year's time"
At Bike Station Aptos we wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. A
person considering their first bike in some time is very likely to experience
some sticker shock. It's very common for someone to expect to be able to
get a pretty good road bike for as little as $600. We know that there are
some road bikes out there retailing at this price point, but our general
advice on this is, "Run Away, as fast as you can!" If you feel that you enjoy
your potential riding partners company, you enjoy the outdoors, and you
will ride your bicycle more than once a year a low-end bicycle will let you
down quickly. The components on a bike in the 500-700 dollar price range
will not work well for very long. They will frustrate you (and us) with poor
performance and leaving you looking to upgrade and thus “double
spending”.
If you plan to ride 15 miles 2-3 times a week you will not be satisfied with
buying a low-end bike.
Think about this-if you are running 10 miles a week and attending spin
classes you have already outgrown a 500-700 dollar bike.
Would you wear $500 shoes with a suit from wal-mart or drink a $30 bottle
of wine with food from taco bell?
At Bike Station Aptos we do the research for you and shop our
manufacturers to bring you the best value for the dollar. We have a range
of beautiful bicycles in starting at $799 in a variety of frame materials for
you to try.
"Someone said steel is heavy”
At Bike Station Aptos we sell bikes made of all types of materials-but here
are the basics in a very small nutshell.
Steel: it is what bikes have been made of the longest. A steel frame
provides a great ride that is lively and comfortable-especially on Santa Cruz
County roads. Steel frames are also available at a great price because
steel is easy to work with. No it may not be the lightest bike on the block-but
it will be comfortable and it will not break! A quality steel bicycle will weigh
between 17-22 lbs. The other plus to steel is that the frame is easily
repaired. It will last your lifetime! Expect to pay $900 and upwards for a
quality steel bicycle.
Aluminum: it has become the frame material for low-end bikes. We like to
illustrate that there are two types of aluminum bike frames the first being
the frame that you see on low-end bikes, which will actually be heavier than
a comparable steel bike! Then one can move into more technologically
advanced aluminum frames which are quite light. Aluminum provides a very
rigid ride-which is great because the frame is stiff and efficient. Aluminum
bikes are often the choice of professional racers due to the low weight and
stiffness of the material. Aluminum frames cannot be repaired. Expect to
pay $1200 and upwards for a quality aluminum bicycle.
Carbon Fiber: As the name will indicate carbon fiber starts as thread that
then gets woven into fabric, which is then impregnated with, laminates and
baked to harden. It is a very light material that can dampen road feel.
Carbon Fiber has gained in popularity as a frame material and it is the
current rage. Carbon fiber also produces many different ride qualities
depending on how the fibers are woven and what the weave is mixed with.
But generally with carbon fiber you get what you pay for. Good quality
carbon fiber bicycles are expensive and delicate and deserver to be
handled as a fine instrument. Expect to pay $2500 and upwards for a
quality carbon fiber bicycle.
Titanium: Perhaps the perfect frame material, especially for larger riders.
It is rust and corrosion resistant. As strong as steel but much lighter and
very resilient and provides great comfort on the road. Titanium remains
quite expensive due to the difficulties in working with the material but it is
worth every penny of it. Expect to pay $2000 and upwards for the frameset
only.
"Someone said I should buy a bike with at least 105 components"
The comment above may be the number one thing we hear from the first
time buyer. As a matter of fact, the term 105 Bike has almost become
synonymous for an entry level or midlevel bike. Many first time buyers can't
tell you the name of the bike model or the frame material; all they know is
"that it has 105 on it."
105 is the name for Shimano's workhorse component group. Like
Campagnolo's Veloce group, it is reasonably light, durable and accurate. In
other words, 105 is a great value for the masses. The problem with
choosing your bike based solely on the parts is that your frame and wheels
could be substandard. A complete bike consists of a frame set, drive train,
brakes, wheels and finishing kit (stem, handlebar, seat post, and a
saddle). The rub is that marketing departments know you are looking for a
"105 bike", so they will put a 105-rear derailleur on a $700 bike and then
finish everything else off with cheap end and generic parts leaving you with
a nice derailleur that works well when nothing else does. Needless to say,
we don't stock these bikes.
"Someone said it doesn't matter what bike I get as long as it fits me
right"
Of course, we always feel that the bike matters, but we absolutely will not
sell it to you if it does not fit. We take great pride in our abilities to insure
that our customers are absolutely as comfortable on their new bike as
possible. We use the “Fit Kit” and our state of the art size cycle to measure
you and determine the most appropriate frame size and geometry based on
your specific measurements, flexibility, and health. We factor in the age,
fitness level and your goals to determine the most appropriate bike for you.
Our philosophy is not to push you toward a bike on our floor because it is
"close" to your size. We have enough comparable styles and sizes on the
floor for you to test ride and compare, then if we do not have the proper
size in the model you like we order it.
We have years of practical experience in refining a person's position on the
bike. We will adjust your new bike to you at the time of your purchase, as
well as refine your fit after you have been riding for several months and
possibly developed a greater range of flexibility. We always have time to
put your bike up on the trainer and make sure that you continue to be in
the right place.
"Someone said you guys are the best and I shouldn't shop
anywhere else"
We wanted to close with this to get your attention and say that we are
committed to helping you, the buyer get the best bike available to you. We
take the time to share our passion for the sport, find the best match for
each customer, and provide a superior level of service. Please don't buy a
bike without looking at what we offer. You are developing not only a
relationship with your bike but with the people from whom you chose to buy
your bike.
This is a lot of information the first time buyer. At Bike Station Aptos, we
enjoy helping you sort out the differences and encourage you to ask lots of
questions. When you know what you are looking at you can know what you
are looking for and appreciate the differences!
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